Brinklow Castle

Brinklow Castle stands on a high mound in the village of Brinklow, Warwickshire. It is a medieval motte-and-bailey castle built in the late 11th century by Aubrey de Coucy, the first Norman lord of Brinklow. The site was first used as a prehistoric burial mound, which explains its local name ‘the Tump’. The castle’s motte rises twelve metres above the ground, and its original bailey measured 121 metres by 152 metres. Later changes reduced the size of the bailey by cutting a ditch and forming a new rampart in the centre. The castle was abandoned during the 13th century for reasons that remain unknown. Aubrey de Coucy left his English lands before the Domesday Book of 1086 was completed, so records show his holdings but no clear reason for the castle’s decline. The motte-and-bailey design suggests it was once a major stronghold in the region. Its grand scale and later modifications reflect changes in how such castles were used over time. Visitors today see a grassy mound rising above the village, with traces of the old ramparts still visible. The site offers a quiet spot to view the surrounding countryside and imagine the castle’s past. There are no buildings left, just the earthworks and the motte itself. The village of Brinklow surrounds the site, giving a sense of how the castle once dominated the landscape.